Philosophy taught to seven-year-olds

Hannah Goff reports that seven year olds are being taught philosophy at Eliot Bank Primary School in Forest Hill, south-east London. “Posing philosophical questions…encourages the children to think in a different way to the one they are used to, Philosophy teacher at Eliot Bank Primary School in Forest Hill, south-east London, [philosophy teacher Peter Worley] argues.”

...”Head teacher Kathy Palmer says: “It also teaches them that confusion can be a good thing – that it’s OK to make a mistake.

“What we try to do is to give them a tool-kit so they know what to do when that happens.”

A recent study suggested that children’s IQs are boosted by learning philosophy at an early age.”

I wonder if philosophy would ever replace RE as a core subject in schools? Now wouldn’t that be nice?

Anyway this reminds me of an idea I had not so long ago to mark World Philosophy Day (12 November), basically to encourage people to buy and donate a philosophy book (ideally one of the many easy introductions around aimed at young people) to their local library. Critical thinking is a wonderful skill for anyone no matter what their beliefs. What do you think?